1. Understanding Research 1
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Definition and Meaning of Research
1.3 Characteristics of Research
1.4 Objective of Research
1.5 Motivation in Research
1.6 Types of Research
1.7 Research in Decision Making
1.8 Role of Research in Various Areas
1.9 Limitations of Research
1.10 What Constitutes a good Research?
1.11 Summary
1.12 Keywords
1.13 Self-assessment Questions
2. Scientific Methods and Research 31
2.1 Scientific Method
2.2 Definitions of Scientific Method
2.3 Characteristics of Scientific Method
2.4 Basis of Scientific Method
2.5 Scientific Methods and Scientific Research
2.6 Components of Scientific Approach
2.7 Bias and Prejudice in Scientific Research
2.8 Summary
2.9 Key Words
2.10 Self-assessment Questions
3. Formulating Research Problem and Hypothesis 45
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Process / Planning Process
3.3 Research Problem - Need for Defining
3.4 Pre-requisites for Formulating Research Problem
3.5 Selection of the Research Problem
3.6 Points to Ponder on Research Problem
3.7 Units of Analysis
3.8 Time and Space Co-ordination
3.9 Characteristics of Interest
3.10 Environmental Conditions
3.11 Formulation of a Research Problem and Hypothesis
Testing
3.12 Summary
3.13 Key Words
3.14 Self-assessment Questions
4. Hypothesis Testing 71
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Hypothesis: Definition and Meaning
4.3 Role of Hypothesis
4.4 Sources of Hypothesis
4.5 Kinds of Hypothesis
4.6 Characteristics of Hypothesis
4.7 Formulation of Hypothesis
4.8 Importance of Hypothesis
4.9 Difficulties in Formulating of Hypothesis
4.10 Means to Overcome Difficulties
4.11 Testing of Hypothesis
4.12 Steps in Testing Hypothesis
4.13 Statistical Hypothesis / Tests of Significance
4.14 Limitations of Tests of Significance
4.15 Sujrimary
4.16 Keywords
4.17 Self-assessment Questions
5. Research Design
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Meaning and Definition of Research Design
5.3 Relation between Problem Formulation and Research
Design
5.4 Factors affecting Research Design
5.5 Advantages of Research Design
5.6 Steps in Research Design
5.7 Various types of Research Designs
5.8 Summary
5.9 Key Words
5.10 Self-assessment Questions 95
6. Data Collection and Measurement 119
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Meaning and Importance of Data
6.3 Sources of Data
6.4 Choosing the Method of Data Collection
6.5 Methods of collection of Primary Data
6.6 Methods of collection of Secondary Data
6.7 Scrutiny of Secondary Data
6.8 Merits and Demerits of Different Methods of Collecting
Primary Data
6.9 Summary
6.10 Keywords
6.11 Self-assessment Questions
7. Sampling and Sampling Technique 145
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Population and Sample
7.3 Variables and Attributes
7.4 Procedures for Collecting Data
7.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Sampling
7.6 What makes a Good Sample?
7.7 Sampling and Non-Sampling Errors
7.8 Sampling Frame
7.9 Methods of Sampling and Probability Sampling
7.10 Methods of Sampling: Non-probability Sampling
7.11 Sampling Design
7.12 Sample Size
7.13 Other Sampling Methods
7.14 Summary
7.15 Keywords
7.16 Self-assessment Questions
8. Observation 193
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Definition of Observation
8.3 Features of Observation
8.4 Importance of Observation
8.5 Types of Observation
8.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Observation
8.7 Limitations of Observation
8.8 Principle Difficulties in Observation
8.9 Summary
8.10 Keywords
8.11 Self-assessment Questions
9. The Interview Method 213
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Definition and Meaning of Interview
9.3 Types of Interview
9.4 Advantages of the Interview Method
9.5 Major Limitations of the Interview Method
9.6 The Process of Interview
9.7 Pre-requisites of a Successful Interview
9.8 Summary
9.9 Key Words
9.10 Self-assessment Q uestions
10. The Questionnaire Method 235
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Meaning and Purpose of a Questionnaire
10.3 Types of Questionnaire
10.4 Formulation of a Questionnaire / Schedule
10.5 Guidelines for Questionnaire Items
10.6 Questionnaire - choice, wordings etc.
10.7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaire
10.8 Pre-testing a Questionnaire
10.9 A Model Questionnaire
10.10 Summary
10.11 Keywords
10.12 Self-assessment Questions
11. The Survey Method 261
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Definitions of Social Survey
11.3 Meaning of Survey
11.4 Objects of Survey
11.5 Characteristics of Social Survey
11.6 Types of Survey
11.7 Planning a Survey
11.8 Advantages of Survey
11.9 Limitations of Survey Method
11.10 Survey Trends
11.11 Summary
11.12 Keywords
11.13 Self -assessment Questions
12. The Experimental Method 279
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Definition and Meaning of Experimental Method
12.3 Objectives of Experiment
12.4 What constitutes an Experiment?
12.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Experiments
12.6 How to Conduct an Experiment?
12.7 Validity in Experimentation
12.8 Basic Principles of Experimentation
12.9 Experimental Designs
12.10 Summary
12.11 Keywords
12.12 Self-assessment Questions
13. Scaling Techniques and Attitudes Measurement 305
Techniques
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Attitudes, Attributes and Beliefs
13.3 Attitudes Measurement
13.4 Choice of Data Collection and
Measurement Techniques
13.5 Scaling Techniques
13.6 Types of Scales
13.7 The Semantic Differential Scale
13.8 Selection of an Approximate Scale
13.9 Limitations of Attitudes Measurement Scales
13.10 Summary
13.11 Keywords
13.12 Self-assessment Questions
14. Data Presentation, Processing and Analysis 337
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Editing of Data
14.3 Coding of Data
14.4 Classification of Data
14.5 Tabulation of Data
14.6 Graphical Representation of Data
14.7 Analysis of Data
14.8 Interpretation of Data
14.9 Summary
14.10 Keywords
14.11 Self-assessment Questions